Ashby Wolds Trail

Sunday 8th June 2008

We drove to Measham and set off along the Ashby Wolds trail; a cycle path linking Measham with Moira. It was not too busy considering it was such a nice morning. The trail was lovely and flat and edged with lots of wild flowers.

We followed the trail to Donisthorpe Wood Park which had been a coliary until 1998. It has now been reclaimed and is a lovely woodland.

We continued on the trail and along the Ashby canal to Moira.

There was a canal festival at Moira furnace (a Victorian blast furnace and lime kilns) with Morris dancers and other activities going on.

We passed through and continued along the towpath to Conkers, the National Forest visitor centre. We had been looking for geocaches along the route and had successfully found 6, but the 7th was elusive as we should have got onto the cycle path at Moira but the festival had obstructed the way through, so although we were only 20m from the cache, it was actually about 30m above us on the disused railway line. We abandoned that one and as it had got very warm we retraced our way back along the Ashby Wolds way. We got back to the car after 14.5 km.

Leicestershire Round - Newtown Linford to Woodhouse Eaves

Saturday 31st May 2008

As the weather was forecast to be good we decided on a LR walk. We drove to Newton Linford and managed to park in the pretty village which had lots of thatched roofed houses.

We walked through Bradgate park which was lovely. We had a lovely view of two fallow deer, with jackdaws sitting on their heads, looking down at us from the cliffs.

We walked through the park to the ruins of Lady Jane Greys house and then set off uphill to Old John.

This was a surprisingly stiff climb and we were all puffed by the time we got to the top. We left the park and walked through Brough wood and then across Lingdale golf course. The course was surprisingly empty but we did see a muntjac deer scampering across the green.

After crossing the golf-course we reached the road and turned right into Woodhouse Eaves. We stopped for lunch (a baguette and Old Peculiar) and then continued walking through the village. The houses were large and very impressive. We arrived in Swithland and then walked through Swithland woods which brought us back to Bradgate Park at the Hall gates entrance and followed the path alongside the reservoir. We were all exhausted by this stage which was surprising as we had managed the 11 mile walk so easily, just 2 weeks ago. The park was very crowded now and we headed straight back to the car. The walk was 14.9km - 9 miles.